Stephens concedes in Costa Mesa council race

Costa Mesa City Council candidate John Stephens has conceded his race for the third open seat to incumbent Gary Monahan.

In a Facebook message to supporters late last week, Stephens acknowledged that there were probably not enough ballots remaining to be counted in order to pass Monahan.

"Thanks for all of the work, support, thoughts and prayers," Stephens wrote. "We made a good run and accomplished a lot."

With Monahan retaining his seat, the conservative City Council majority is set to remain in power. Led by Councilman Jim Righeimer, it has voted to privatize city services and demanded large employee union concessions. But instead of a reliable 4 to 1 bloc, Righeimer will now have to contend with Sandy Genis, who leads all candidates and is more likely to align with Councilwoman Wendy Leece, previously the lone dissenter.

"Hopefully it will temper the majority and it will make them want to listen to the residents more," Leece said.

Monahan was not immediately available for comment Monday.

Only a tenth of a percentage point separates Monahan and Stephens – 15.6 percent to 15.5 percent – but the trend has been in Monahan's favor, and very few ballots remain to be counted.

The gap widened toward the end of last week as the county Registrar of Voters tallied the few remaining damaged or provisional ballots. As of Monday, Stephens was stuck in fourth Monday with 149 votes fewer than Monahan. A week ago, Stephens had narrowed the lead from 355 votes to 110 votes, but Monahan pulled ahead after that.

The official results will not likely be certified until Wednesday evening, Registrar Neal Kelley said.

Still leading the field of eight candidates Monday was former councilwoman and land planner Genis, with 17.9 percent of the vote, and Councilman Steve Mensinger in second with 15.9 percent.